Dart target with moving member



1951 J. T. NEININGER DART TARGET WITH MOVING MEMBER Filed July 25, 1949 In veutor James Theodor Ne/h/hger Patented Aug. 7, 1951 DARTTAR-GET WITH MOVING MEMBER James Theodor. Neiningen-Canton, Ohio Application July 25, 1949,,SerialiNo; 106,641

of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings for a more detailed explanation of one embodiment of this invention, a target board, generally designated by the character reference I includes a rectangular box or casing I 2 having parallel opposed side walls l4 and an end wall IS, the walls being integrally joined to a rear wall [8.

a The front and opposing end of the box is open and an enlarged rectangular board is secured to the open front of the box parallel with the back wall l8. The board 20 extends beyond the side and ends walls of the box and is formed with a central opening 22. A baseball diamond 24 is subscribed on the face of the board with circular target spots 26 being formed at the corners of the diamond to simulate a conventional ball diamond and a first, second,' third bases thereon and home plate. A batter 28 is inscribed on the diamond adjacent to the opening 22 and a bat 30 is movably disposed behind the opening. The bat is adapted for movement in a curvilinear path behind the opening 22 and is pivoted to a bracket 32 by means of a pivot pin or rivet 34, the bracket being secured to the end wall I6. The bat 30 is provided with a guide member or protuberance 36 formed at its opposing end and disposed within a verticall positioned arcuate trackway 38. A flexible member 40 is secured as at 42 to the unattached end of the bat and provides the means whereby the bat may be reciprocated behind the opening 22, the bat moving about its pivoted end and being guided within the trackway 38. A spring 44 is secured to a hook 46 fastened in the bat adjacent the pivoted end thereof and is secured to a bracket 48 depending from the top side of the box. Thus, the bat is normally held in a horizontal plane and when the flexible member 40 is pulled to move the bat downwardly about its pivot 34 the spring expands and is adapted in contracting to move the bat back to its normal position.

ill

Suitable means may be provided'for fastening the box on a wall or other vertical support and may include eye screws 50 extending from the back I 8 and adapted to be placed on hooks, which may-be fastened in the wall or vertical support.

The" game is played with the same rules of baseball and, after the game board is secured oifa vertical support, one contestant stands a certain distance removed from the board 20 and attempts to throw darts through the central opening 22. The opponent, by means of the flexible member 40, reciprocates the bat vertically behind the opening 22 in an attempt to strike one of the darts coming through the opening and thereby deflect the same from entrance into the box. If the batter strikes one of the darts, he then takes one dart and steps to the mound in front of the board 22 and throws the dart against the board. In order to secure a hit, he must throw the dart into one of the base areas and then, of course, the value is defined upon the particular base within which to start his position. If the dart strikes any other portion of the board, it is considered as an out. Of course, if the pitcher is able to throw three darts through the opening 22 without being struck by the bat 30 then that is considered an out. Otherwise, the game is played in accordance with the rules of baseball.

Of course, the target board, with the movable bat, may be used in playing other games and is not necessarily restricted to the playing of baseball, though it is peculiarly adapted and designed for such a game. However, it is to be understood that limitation is sought only in accordance with the terms of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A target comprising a casing having an open front, a target board mounted on the open front of the casing and formed with a transverse opening communicating with the casing and through which missiles are adapted to be thrown into the casing, a deflector member movably mounted in the casing behind the opening for deflecting missiles thrown through the opening, guide means for said member, actuating means connected to said member for movement thereof, and wherein said deflector member is pivotally mounted for curvilinear movement.

2. A target comprising a casing having an open front, a target board mounted on the open front of the casing and formed with a transverse opening communicating with the casing and through which missiles are adapted to be thrown into the casing, a deflector member movably mounted in the casing behind the opening for deflecting missiles thrown through the opening, guide means for said member, actuating means connected to said member for movement thereof, and wherein said deflector member includes a bar pivoted at one end to the casing, said guide means being operatively associated with the opposing end.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said guide means includes an arcuate trackway disposed in a vertical plane concentric to the pivoted end of the bar and a guide member laterally carried by the bar and slidably disposed in the trackway.

4. A target comprising a casing having an open front, a target board mounted on the open front of the casing and formed with a transverse opening communicating with the casing and through which missiles are adapted to be thrown into the casing, a deflector member movably mounted in the casing behind the opening for deflecting missiles thrown through the opening, guide means for said member, actuating means connected to said member for movement thereof, and wherein said actuating means includes a spring connection between said deflector member and casing and a flexible member secured at one end to the deflector member for pivoting movement thereof.

5, A target mechanism comprising a casing having an open front, a target board mounted on the open front of the casing and formed with an opening therein, a bat member having one end pivotally mounted in said casing and behind said opening whereby only the balls passing through the opening can strike the bat and only a predetermined portion of the bat is exposed, a curved guide track mounted in said casing in juxtaposition to the other end of said bat member, a guide member on said other end of said bat member and cooperating with said guide track for curvilinear movement, spring means mounted in said casing for urging said bat memher to one position, and means for moving said bat member in opposition to said spring means.

JAMES THEODOR NEININGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,018,409 Culp Feb. 27, 1912 1,188,646 Greenslit June 27, 1916 2,201,865 Kriekard May 21, 1940 

